Senior Night excitement for Prichard’s Bulldogs vs. McMinn
BEARDEN — A string of free passes, key errors, a misjudged fly ball and bad base running all came into play as Bearden High School baseball celebrated its Senior Night at Phil Garner Ballpark Monday, April 29, versus McMinn County.
In the end it was a 1-run Bulldogs loss.
Four walks and two hit batters by BHS pitching in the top of the fourth inning allowed the visitors to increase a 4-3 lead to 7-3 without putting a ball in play that didn’t result in an out.
However, the Cherokees proved generous in the bottom of the fifth, as a pair of two-out infield errors and a misjudged fly ball in center field — along with singles by seniors Brody Benko and Riley Mahan and sophomore Gavin Bergeron — allowed Bearden (21-12) to tie the score 7-7.
McMinn strung together a double and three singles in the top of the sixth inning to score the go-ahead run — a base running mistake combined with a strong throw from senior right fielder Mahan to senior catcher Brooks Wright to nail a Cherokee at home plate limited the damage.
However, that was enough for the Black and Gold visitors (17-12), winning 8-7.
“We struggled offensively the last week-and-a-half, so it’s good to see us come back and put seven runs on the board,” said BHS head coach Dave Prichard, whose team is No. 2 seed in the District 4-4A Tournament staring this week (see below).
However, “Too many mistakes to get a win, especially on the mound,” he added.
McMinn lefty reliever Ty Barnett, a Cincinnati Bearcats signee, closed down the Bulldogs in order in the seventh, striking out the side. “I think he’s at about 90-plus strikeouts through about 48 innings or so,” McMinn head coach Matt Ray said.
Other BHS top hitters were Matt Schroeffel (double and single), Cameron Cooper (two singles) and singles from seniors Rhys Thomas and Jonah Kohring.
